Tagged: Song Translation

SONG TRANSLATION – This Is The Life – Skobo, Ananda, & Washamba Wenza

This is the Life (translation)

Translation provided by Smallz

also, check out the Skobo Fugee Collection, for more of Skobo’s music.

 

Vas 1, Smallz Mshamba Mwenza:

Sheng:

Me hukuona natoka Soo ndio mwaa nikukiss baby/pia nataka kukuona daily, iko on air kile umeseti / sikuskizi kama uko shady

Nikistand out weh umeketi / nikiblak out weh ni mlevi, ju unaown 16bars ..wanahop kukill verse instead ya kukip it live kwa chapter, na ukihook food 4 thought hii jeshi inaimanga vifaster

Always nikinyesha weh unameza hii flow, me ni smallz weh ndio HIPHOP, unafaa makofi ya Kilo, juu nimeshiba weh ndio mwiko sa nameditate thru hii product ya kiko..

Vile weh ni m’fat Jo na techniques za Puerto Rico, umefanyianga the people, wengine off stereo, hawa majaba chai, wanasmile na mimi ju imewadia ile time, switnes in its prime, addicted ka ghetto crime..

Umenifunza kutema maswala, kujiexpress vile mawaza, kubaki REAL kwa LEAGUE, Kikazi kutenga mafala

Pia nastick hapa nitek teachngs ka Lession, wameinsist kuwaplease kutek teachings kwa Lesso, hawakugusi leo ju unasound mKesho, the Future,the promises, the proccess of being, MUSIC itself. kama ni Hiphop niko safe, hizi zingine siskizi, speakers gon dizzy..the more unaget closer hapa the more naget feelings..

English:

-[in refferance to HIPHOP,] evrytime i hear a hiphop sound, its time to rush n embrace it,.whatever it has to offer is on air, i aint gon listen if it’s shady,

– sum artists just want to ‘kill’ it in a verse instead of teaching, entertain..keep it live in that chapter..n also Hiphop is never lame,it got ’16 bars’evrytime even when am high..

HIPHOP does evrythng, i only meditate on what it brings onto the table..n i meditate on this product of the pipe..when i spit, Hiphop swallows my words thru the instrumental.

HIPHOP gives a FAT beat, comparing it to Fat Joe of Latino bakground.. Other artists go off it at times tho..the beat kills the artists’ works if they dont DELIVER.. Its now my time, switnes in its prime..  Hiphop got me addicted lyk GHETTO CRIME.

It gave me a perfect way of how to express my thoughts n feelings.. Now am able to remain, stay top and REAL,just like Real Madrid on their League ..and with my works, not to work with fools.

 

I promise to stick to Hiphop 4ever.. to take teachngs like in a class lession..other artists choose to take teachings from a ‘leso’, [swahili word for the clothng women wear with teachngs written at the bottom of it.]. So if its HIPHOP Then am safe, aint gving it up 4 other genres ..stickn to it’s promises for the future..

 

Translation provided by Judge BlackDuo and Lness

 

English:

vas 2 – Flamez Mshamba Mwenza –

…..what i feel i will write wether is wrong or wright though not a sent i will cast the first rym on the mic. First flow no track cash flow no works less more chase more i acknowledge its a fact. I am giving you knowledge in dozes u can call me a doctor. I AM FEEDING MASSES with vases u can call me a padry. If there is a bad situation to be broke is a sin without a job its very dangerous. hastling is not fare. Stil camping with the boyz like the brazilian coach and this mascles are ready to full fil my jorney. my talent is a free gift thats why i dont pay douwary ..If its earning u are giving then you are dresing and feeding nations. I am not doing music coz of fame its the love in every instru ..after math is a birth worht words coz this vas has mo teaching than you can find in school MWEMBEEMBE sound like empty debez so lets make noise as we bowll is the focus

 

vas..3 [Skobo]

…the wispers of wind this are the voices in my mind guardian angle is with me i mean selasi nasi. it Genessis book of the bible and kuran words still runing teach one bless one is to earn..in the hood is acardemy where we learn. how to go through love is a must like a fog[blunt]. I am day dreaming at night sleep walking listen i street talk the word. Remember the streets is where sir Jah lives early bird on the sun remember God when thingz are sah and it will be ok. This is the extra muzikah focus in Afrikah. Pleasure dont mix with biz bro u cant manage to fix this is the son of man on the crussifix THUNDER all over suden there was dark SCOBO FACE NEVER FADEZ U KNOW

 

Translation provided by Mohjay:

Flamez vas:

Kile nafeel na write, whether ni wrong or write, though not a saint, I’ll curse [cast?] the first rhymes kwa m.i.c., fast slow, no track, cash flow, no works, works, less more, chase more, naku-acknowledge in fact, nawapa knowledge in doses, unaeza niita dokte, nalisha mases verses uneza thani ni padri, ka kuna hali ya hatari kukosa mali ni dhambi, kukosa kazi ni hatari juu hustle si halali, nimedunga kambi na wachezaji ka ule coach wa brazil, na hizi muscles huwa tayari, tena ready ku-influence safari, kipaji ni free tayari na hatufiki bei ya mahari, ka ni riziki unanipa unanilisha unanivisha, sifanyi mziki juu ya sifa uwa ni mapenzi kwa kila instru, aftermath uwanga birth otherwise juu verse, imehold more teaching uwezi pata shuleni, mbwembe mbwembe empty debe, uwa ni kelele kwa wingi vigelegele, sherehe ndio twa focus aiisee

 

What I feel I write, whether it’s wrong or right, though not a saint, I’ll curse [cast?] the first rhymes on the mic, fast slow, no track, cash flow, no works, less more, chase more, I acknowledge in fact, I give knowledge in doses, you can call me a doctor, I feed the masses verses you might think it’s a priest, if there is a dangerous situation then if I don’t have wealth it’s a sin, lacking a job is dangerous because hustling is illegal, I’m in the camp with the players like the coach of Brazil, and this muscles are always ready, and they are ready to influence the journey, talent is free and I can’t even pay the dowry, if it’s my right then remember you are not the one who gives me my earning and you don’t feed me nor clothe me, am not doing music because of fame, it’s always love in every instrument, aftermath it’s always birth otherwise because the verse, has held more teachings you can’t find in school, talking, talking empty shit, is always a lot of noise like applause, celebrating is what we focus, I say

 

Skobo vas:

Mawhispers za wind, hizi ndio voices kwa mind, Guardian angel yuko name, I mean, sela Selassie ni Genesis, somo la Bible na Quran word, kwa mouth inazidi run, teach one, bless one, ndio earn, mtaani academy, tunazidi learn, jinsi ya kuishi, upendo lazima ka moshi, na-daydream, usiku na-sleepwalk, listen niki-street talk neno, kumbuka, izi mitaa ndio sir Jah ukaa, early bird kwa saa ndio sasa, kumbuka, Rabuka, kukipambazuka, mambo itakua mzuka, hii ni extra musika, makinika kiafrica, pleasure usimix na biz bro, huwes mek kunifix mwana adam kwa crucifix, blunder, thunder, mara giza jinx, skobo paints, never failes [fades?] you know,

 

Whispers of the wind, those are the voices of the mind, the guardian angel is with me, I mean, sela Selassie is the Genesis, reading of the Bible and the Quran word, in my mouth it continues to run, teach one, bless one, then earn, the streets academy, we continue to learn, in ways we live, love is a must like the smoke, I day dream, tonight, I sleepwalk, I listen as I street talk the word, remember this streets is where sir Jah lives, the time of the early bird is now, remember God when the sun rises, African pleasure, don’t mix with business, bro, you can’t make it to fix me, the son of Adam, to crucify, blunder, thunder, or even darkness, skobo paints, never fails [fades?], you know

 

tattoo2

 

 

SONG TRANSLATION : NIPENI KURA ZENU!!! – Pewa Abagenge

pewa abagenge

Pewa Abagenge is a “new skool” genge artist based in Nairobi. You can find his music on soundcloud, reverbnation and youtube.

Translation provided by Jaymo Kusini from Audio Kusini Studio in Kahawa (Nairobi, Kenya).

[EDIT 10 Dec. 2013: The original music video appears to have been removed. you can still listen to the song here]:

NIPENI KURA ZENU – Pewa Abagenge (Audio Kusini)

CHORUS

NIPENIKURA ZENU…:TUMEKATAA;
(GIVE ME UA VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

NIPENI KURA ZENU…;TUMEKATAA;
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

NIPENI KURA ZENU…TUMEKATAA
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

WANA SIASA BURE TUMEKATAA….
(WE DON’T WANT ROGUE POLITICIANS

VERSE 1

MARA INGINE TENA NIMEKUJA KUOMBA KURA
(ITS YET ANOTHER TIME AVE COME TO ASK FOR YOUR VOTES)

NASKIA MNAKUFA NJAA MI NTAWAPATIA CHAKULA
(I HEAR YOU ARE DYING OF HUNGER AL BRING U FOOD)

NIPATIENI KURA MI NTAWAPATIA UNGA
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES AL GIVE U FLOUR)

I.D.P MSIJALI NTAWAJENGEA NYUMBA
(I. D. P’S DON’T WORRY AL BUILD U HOUSES)

NTAWAPATIA PESA KILA KITU PIA SHAMBA
(I’LL GIVE U MONEY EVERYTHING INCLUDING SHAMBA’S)

BARABARA MBAYA ZOTE JOO MI NTAJENGA
(I’LL BUILD ALL IMPASSABLE ROADS)

NTAFUNIKA MASHIMO LAMI PIA NTAWEKA
(I’LL FILL ALL THE POT HOLES, AND TAMACK THE ROADS)

MASOMO YATAKUWA BURE HAMTA LIPA HATA SHILINGI
(THERE WILL BE FREE EDUCATOIN YOU WONT PAY A CENT)

CHUO KIKUU HIGH SCHOOL PIA SHULE YA MSINGI
(UNIVERSITIES HIGH SCHOOL AND ALSO PRIMARY SCHOOL)

NIPATIENI KURA MI NTALETA HAPA MAJI
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES I’LL BRING YOU WATER )

MTAKUNYWA YA DASANI MTA OGA YA MFEREJI
(U WILL DRINK BOTTLED WATER AND SHOWER WITH TAP WATER)

AHH VIJANA YA MAJI
(AHH BOYS I GIVE YOU SOMETHING FOR LIQUOR)

ILIKUWA UWONGO ILE STORY YA MADAWA
(IT WAS I LIE ABOUT THE DRUGS STORY)

LAKINI HOSPITALINI HAPA MI NTALETA MADAWA
(BUT I’LL SUPPLY DRUGS TO HOSPITALS)

NIPATIENI KURA SI MNA JUA SI NI KABILA MOJA
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES BECAUSE WE ARE FROM ONE TRIBE)

HIZO KURA ZENU MI NAZINGOJA…
(AM WAITING FOR YOUR VOTES)


CHORUS

NIPENIKURA ZENU…:TUMEKATAA;
(GIVE ME UA VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

NIPENI KURA ZENU…;TUMEKATAA;
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

NIPENI KURA ZENU…TUMEKATAA
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

WANA SIASA BURE TUMEKATAA….
(WE DON’T WANT ROGUE POLITICIANS)

NIPENIKURA ZENU…:TUMEKATAA;
(GIVE ME UA VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

NIPENI KURA ZENU…;TUMEKATAA;
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

NIPENI KURA ZENU…TUMEKATAA
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

WANA SIASA BURE TUMEKATAA….
(WE DON’T WANT ROGUE POLITICIANS)

VERSE 2

SIWEZI KUPATIA KURA YANGU NIMEKATAA
(I WONT GIVE YOU MY VOTE I’VE REFUSED)

ULIIBA MAFUTA YA GARI ULIIBA NGATA
(YOU STOLE PETROL YOU ALSO STOLE PARRAFIN)

WE NI MWIZI STAOGOPA KUSEMA HODARI
(YOU ARE A THIEF I WONT FEAR TO SAY BOLDLY)

PESA YA SHULE MAHINDI PIA KABURI
(SCHOOL FEES MAIZE AND ALSO CEMETRY)

NILIKUWA NA BIASHARA MKABOMOA KIBANDA
(I HAD A BUSSINESS WHICH YOU DEMOLISHED)

KAZI KWA VIJANA MISHAHARA MNAPENDA
(JOB TO THE YOUTHS AND YOU TAKE ALL THE CASH)

TUMECHOKA NA VIONGOZI KILA SIKU MASAGA
(WE ARE TIRED OF POLITICIANS WHO ALWAYS HAVE SCANDALS)

KURA YANGU AFADHALI NIPEE BOY ANA SWAGGER
(I’D RATHER GIVE MY VOTE TO A YOUNG DUDE WITH A SWAGGER)

UNAPENDA UKABILA ULILETA VITA KENYA
(YOU ARE A TRIBAL LEADER YOU BROUGHT WAR IN KENYA)

WENGI WALIUMIA WENGINE WALISHA GENYA
(MANY GOT HURT AND OTHERS DIED)

GAZETI YA JANA NILIKUCHEKI ULIKUWA HAPO
(I SAW YOU ON YESTERDAYS PAPER)

NASKIA UNA KESI KENYA INGINE NA OCAMPO
( I HEAR YOU HAVE A CASE IN KENYAN COURTS AND ALSO THE HAGUE)

NAJUA MTOTO WAKO SIKU HIZI ANASOMA ULAYA
(I KNOW YOUR CHILD STUDIES IN EUROPE)

ULIIBA SCHOOL FEES KWANI NANI HUONI HAYA
(ARE YOU NOT ASHAMED THAT YOU STOLE OUR SCHOOL FEES)

WANA SIASA BURE SAA HII TUSHA WAJUA
(ROGUE POLITICIANS NOW WE KNOW YOU)

TUMECHANUKA RAUNDI HII HATUTA WACHAGUA
(WE ARE NOW ENLIGHTENED THIS TIME ROUND WE WON’T VOTE YOU IN)


CHORUS

NIPENIKURA ZENU…:TUMEKATAA;
(GIVE ME UA VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

NIPENI KURA ZENU…;TUMEKATAA;
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

NIPENI KURA ZENU…TUMEKATAA
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

WANA SIASA BURE TUMEKATAA….
(WE DON’T WANT ROGUE POLITICIANS)

NIPENIKURA ZENU…:TUMEKATAA;
(GIVE ME UA VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

NIPENI KURA ZENU…;TUMEKATAA;
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

NIPENI KURA ZENU…TUMEKATAA
(GIVE ME YOUR VOTES…WE’VE REFUSED)

WANA SIASA BURE TUMEKATAA….
(WE DON’T WANT ROGUE POLITICIANS)


VERSE 3

NAITWA PEWA WAKENYA VERSE THREE NI BARUA
(I AM PEWA AND THIS THIRD VERSE IS MY LETTER TO YOU KENYANS)

NIMEWAANDIKIA VITU KADHAA PIA MNAFAA KUJUA
(I’VE WROTE AFEW THINGS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO KNOW)

NIMEANDIKIA WAWESH OTI NA PIA WAMBUA
(AM WRITING TO ALL TRIBES IN KENYA)

KENYA NI MOJA NASEMA TUACHE UKABILA
(KENYA IS ONE LET’S AVOID TRIBALISM)

NIITE BROTHA HATA KAMA SIFANANANGI NA WEWE
(CALL ME BROTHA EVEN THOUGH WE DON’T LOOK ALIKE)

WE NI BROTHA SITA KULINGA NA MAWE
(YOU ARE MY BROTHA I WON’T FIGHT YOU)

USINIPATIE KURA YAKO JUU MI MGENGE
(DON’T GIVE YOUR VOTE BECAUSE OF MY TRIBE)

NIPE KURA YAKO NDO HII KENYA NIIIJENGE
(VOTE ME IN SO THAT I CAN BUILD THIS KENYA)

VIJANA ROUNDI ITABIDI TUWE WAJANJA
(FELLOW YOUTHS THIS TIME ROUND LETS BE CIVILISED)

TUSIKUBALI KUTUMIKA NA HAWA WANA SIASA
(WE SHOULDN’T ACCEPT TO BE MISSUSED BY THESE POLITICIANS)

NAJUA LABDA ULIKOSEA JIRANI YAKO KITAMBO
(I KNOW YOU MIGHT AVE WRONGED YOUR NEIGHBOUR BEFORE)

MWAMBIE POLE MWAMBIE ASAHAU ILE MAMBO
(TELL HIM SORRY AND ASK HIM TO FORGET THE PAST)

NA KURA YAKO USI PATIE MWANA SIASA BURE
(AND DON’T GIVE YOUR VOTE TO ROGUE POLITICIANS)

ULE HAKUJANGI MASHINANI YULE HULALA BUNGE
(THE ONE WHO DOESN’T COME TO THE VILLAGE THE ONE WHO SLEEPS ON HIS JOB)

AKI KUIOMBA KURA MWAMBIE TUMEKATAA
(IF HE ASKS FOR YOUR VOTE TELL HIM WE’VE REFUSED)

SONG TRANSLATION : PAIN AND JOY – GAS FYATU

Watch the music video for Pain and Joy.


PAIN AND JOY TRANSLATION

Translation provided by the artist, Gas Fyatu. Gas is an activist, writer, entrepreneur, and hip hop artist based in Nairobi. He is a member of Ukoo Flani Mau Mau and Moshikali. You can find Gas’ music on youtube. Read his writing at Kwani.

Intro.by FRENCH ARTIST


CHORUS

COME WITH ME/(my honniez)COME WE SING/(my hommies)
COME WITH ME/(rastaman)COME WE SING/(babylons)
PAIN AND JOY/OF EASTLANDS
PAIN AND JOY/OF WESTLAND

VERSE ONE (English)

Pen in my hands I am in my room enjoying solitude
I don’t know who to ask?how to delivers how this lines)
it is like snooker game I don’t know which ball to hit/
in this ghetto the way the rate of single women is increasing in our hoods/ is proportional to the number of emcees releasing too many singles)
All the critics are watching this ocean too big /I got to keep my head up
Sometimes I think leaving this/but I cant hip hop my political party
Lend me your ears as I follow this art like a sinking star/my plate of fate when am hungry
No pain no gain just know/I don’t want slim bodies in my hood/got heavy weight ghetto dreams/do you get it boy?
This rain full of poetry Oo come sing with /come dance to the tunes good and bad stories of my neighbourhood


VERSE ONE (SHENG)

Kalamu kwa mkono niko kwa keja solo
Nikaa ball za pool sijui nigonge ipi
Sijui nummulize mwongolo hizi mistari zitoke vipi?(
Nikaa vile mashory wana opt ku-remain single ndio emcee wana drop too single
Ma-critics wanatazama bahari kubwa maji ya shingo nazama
Na-think kuhama lakini siwezi hip hop chama

Maskio zako sasa na borrow hii sana na I follow ka sinking star plate ya fate niki fee njaa
No pain no gain jua/sitaki kuwa kwa bodies slim nina ghetto dreams heavy weight/una gitch boy
Ni rain ya poetry oo Come sing na me come dance na me mzeiya


VERSE TWO(ENGLISH)

I hear knowadays in the street, they say get the money you get the honey/welcome to eastlands my hood and feel at home/and please come in peace/but don’t forget bring some business/we got bank slave hustlers/economic tough time but in this ghetto we live our lives/living like a soldier/one room /enjoying life pleasures/with our ghetto queens/life a gamble/but there are great moments like marriage dreams in the hood/good things like my man Otty wife got twins/so and so went where since last year?/Jaymo is flying out I heard/bro Kevo stopped smoking weed nowadays he only takes beer/Patty has stuck to khat still/Nimo saw the light and joined Jesus/brotherhood during good times and bad times/Eastland is full of dramas/reggae music blasting from sound woofers on the streets/black hooded hip hop head roaming the streets/watch you back police on your back/COME SING WITH COME DANCE WITH THE STORIES OF THIS GHETTOES

VERSE TWO(SHENG)

NASKIA SIKU HIZI GET THE MONEY GET THE HONEY/KARIBU EASTLAND MTAANI NA UFEEL NYUMBANI/na ukuje na amani/
Lakini usisahau kubeba pesa kuna ma-lords- bank/vijana bank/economy mbaya lakini hood tunaishi
Maisha ki-soldier room moja/pleasure za life kuoja/kando ya bed na ka gheeto queen/pata potea/dreams za kufunga ndoa/vitu poa/kaa otty amepata matwins/nani amepotelea wapi since last year?jaymo ana fly naskia/kevo aliacha gode siku hizi ni ma-beer/paty nimogoka sana nimo ameokoka/ubrother hood kukiwa kupoa ama kubaya tuko/si eastland kuna vituko/reggae na saunya/hip hop nyuma ya black hoodies/wasee mabanga wakudiss

Verse three is by a cultural officer at alliance francaise 2005/06/and current director alliance francaise Zimbabwe/and an artist/ Charles houdart a.k.a hoo

ukoo 1